Meridian CAV programme appoints Ruiz as CEO

Dr Daniel Ruiz has been appointed to the role of Chief Executive of Meridian, the £100 million connected and autonomous vehicle acceleration programme, which was launched in September.

Dr Ruiz takes on the leadership from Launch Director, Jim Campbell, who the organisation says has successfully completed his assignment to establish the organisation.

Dr Ruiz joins Meridian from Dynniq UK Ltd, where he was Managing Director, a role in which he led a 500-strong team to tackle traffic challenges on the UK road network by developing, installing and maintaining a number of technology-based solutions. He has also held roles as Head of Real Time Operations at Transport for London (TfL), and Launch Director of the Transport Systems Catapult.

Ian Constance, Chief Executive of the Advanced Propulsion Centre, Meridian’s parent organisation, said, “We’re looking forward to welcoming Daniel as Chief Executive of Meridian, and working with him as he builds upon Meridian’s successful launch earlier this year.”

“I would also like to thank Jim Campbell for the crucial role he has played in launching Meridian earlier this year, and wish him well for the future.”

Jim Campbell will resume his roles as Managing Director of Sutherland Campbell International Ltd, and with the European Commission’s Executive Agency for SMEs.

Dr Ruiz says the industry can look forward to “increasing amounts of interesting activity” by the Meridian programme.